Oedipus Rex
...of man's free will existing within the fate, which the Greeks believed, guided the universe. Man was free to choose and was ultimately held responsible for his own actions. Both the concepts of fate and free will played a major part in Oedipus' destruction. Although he was a victim of fate, he was not controlled by it. Oedipus was destined from birth to someday marry his mother and to murder his father. This prophecy as warned by the oracle was unconditional and would likely come to pass, no matter what he may have done to avoid it.
From the beginning of this tragedy, Oedipus took many actions leading to his own downfall. Oedipus could have waited for the plague to end, but out of compassion for his suffering people, he had Creon go to Delphi. When he learned of Apollo's word, he could have calmly investigated the murder of the former King Laius, but due to his impatience, he passionately curses the murderer, and in so, unknowingly curses himself. "Upon the murderer I invoke this curse- whether he is one man and all unknown, or one of many- may he wear out his life in misery or doom! If with my knowledge he lives at my hearth, I pray that I myself may feel my curse." (pg. 438; lines 266-271)
In order for Sophecles' Greek audience to relate to the tragic figure, he had to have some type of characteristic flaw. This brought the character down to a human level, invoking in them the fear that "it could happen to them." And Oedipus certainly is not one without flaws. His pride, and ignorance, and his quest for the truth ultimately contributed to his own destuction. When Oedipus was told (after threatening Teiresias), that he was responsible for the murder of Laius, he became enraged and calls the old oracle a liar. He then ran away from his home, Corinth, in hopes of outsmarting the gods. Like his father, Oedipus also sought ways to escape the horrible destiny...
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